Medford, Mass. (May 17, 2024) – The Golden Bears met the St. John Fisher University Cardinals at Tufts University for day two of the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals got on the board first in the second inning. The Golden Bears answered with a run in the fourth to tie the game at one. However, the Cardinals would grab one more run in the bottom of the sixth to win the game 2-1. Emily McManus led the Cardinals by going two-for-three with a double and a home run. Cassidy Ormond pitched seven innings, letting up one earned run and striking out five batters.

Records:

Western New England: 27-15 (11-5)

St. John Fisher University: 35-6 (14-0)

Game 1: 

The Cardinals started Cassidy Ormond in the pitching circle against the Golden Bears. Ormond gave up a leadoff single but then got the next three batters out. Ava Blanchard opposed Ormond in the pitching circle for the Golden Bears and dealt with the first three batters one, two, three. WNE got a runner on with two outs in the second inning. However, could not get home. Emily McManus was up to start the inning for the Cardinals and slapped a home run over the right-field fence to give them a 1-0 lead. Blanchard would let two runners on, but no more runs and the Golden Bears were up in the third inning. The Golden Bears got a runner on base, but Ormond kept them from scoring once again. Blanchard responded with a two-strikeout, no run inning in the bottom of the third. Then, in the fourth, the Golden Bears pieced a few hits together, and with two outs and a runner on third, Shea McDaniel hit a hard single back at the pitcher, and McDaniel would beat out the throw to tie the game at one for WNE. The Golden Bears had bases loaded after that, but Ormond got out of the inning by getting the final batter to line out.

The Cardinals got their leadoff hitter on, but Blanchard got the next three batters out in a row to move the game to the fifth. Both pitchers made quick work of the opposing offense, and it was time for the sixth inning. Ormond sat the WNE batters down one, two, three once again. However, in the bottom of the sixth, with runners on second and third, Evelyn Picone would enter the game as the WNE pitcher. Mari Spitz would give the Cardinals the one-run lead back by reaching on a fielder's choice. Picone would get out of the inning after that by getting three of the next four batters out. That brought up the top of the seventh inning, with the Golden Bears down to their final three outs of the season. Shea McDaniel led the inning with a single. However, the Cardinals turned a double play and got the final out to win the game 2-1 and eliminate the Golden Bears from the NCAA Tournament.

Around the Diamond:

• Five Golden Bears had hits during the game.
• The Golden Bears were led by a 2-for-3 performance by Shea McDaniel.
• Emily McManus led the Cardinals by going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
• Emily McManus had both extra-base hits for the Cardinals with a double and a home run.
• Ava Blanchard pitched five innings, letting up two earned runs and striking out three batters. Evelyn Picone pitched one inning, letting up no hits and striking out one batter.
• Cassidy Ormond pitched seven innings, letting up one earned run and striking out five batters to earn the win for the Cardinals.
• The Cardinals beat the Golden Bears 2-1.

Up Next:

• The Golden Bears' season ends at Tufts University with an overall record of 27-15 and a conference record of 15-3.
• The Cardinals will take on Tufts University in game five of the Medford NCAA Tournament Regional.